Clamp for stretching wires.



F. N. FITCH.

CLAMP FOR STRETCHING WIRES.

APPucAnbu FILED JUNE 29. 1915.

1 ,202,983 Patented Oct. 31', 1916.

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FFICE.

FRANK N. FITCH, OF CORRECTIONVILLE, IOWA.

CLAMP FOR STRETCI-IING W'IRES.

Application filed June 29, 1915.

To aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I,'FRANK N. FITCH, a citizenof the United States, residing at Correctionville, in the county ofVVoodbury and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Clamps for Stretching Wire, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to clamps and the object of the same is toprovide an improved form of clamp adapted primarily for use inconnection with wire stretchers.

Another object of this invention resides in the production of animproved wire clamp that is so constructed as to obviate the use of anyscrews or other means passing through the clamp jaws or wire engagingstrips so as to provide against any likelihood of either the jaws or thestrips being weakened at" any certain point.

A still further object is to provide a device that is simple inconstruction, efiicient in operation and consists of a minimum number ofparts.

With these and other objects in view, this invention resides in certainnovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, aswill be hereinafter more fully de scribed and claimed andshown in theaccompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a top plan view of theimproved device in connection with a wire fence; F 2 is a view inelevation of the improved device as shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is afragmentary top plan view of one of the jaws with the means for closingthe same removed.

Referring to the parts by reference numerals, a pair of stripsdesignated by the numeral 10 are adapted to secure therebetween thestrands of wire 11. To efficiently retain the strips 10 in a position toclamp therebetween the wires 11, there is provided a pair of hingedlysecured jaws 12, the same having the inner faces thereof shaped so as toconform to the curved outer faces 13 of the strips 10 and on the innerfaces of the jaws 12 at the opposite end from the pivotal connection ofthe same are provided abutment shoulders 14. As is clearly shown in Fig.1 these jaws 12 when in a closed position securely retain the stripstherebetween, the inner faces of the jaws conforming to the contour'ofthe outer faces 13 of the strips 10 and together with the abutmentshoulders 14, the said strips are securely retained betweenSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Got. 31, 1916.

Serial No. 37,056.

the jaws. To provide means whereby pressure can be exerted to urge thejaws 12 to a position as. shown in Fig. 1 and also to provide propermeans for stretching the wires 11, one of the jaws 12 has pivotallysecured in the end of the outwardly flared portion 15 thereof on bothsides, levers 30 the same being pivoted by means of pins 31 and a pairof links 32 pivotally connect this set of levers 30 with'a second set oflevers 33 that have, connecting the same intermediate their length a pin34. Gne of the jaws 12, more specifically the one other than that whichhas the levers 30 secured thereto, is provided with a groove 38 in theoutwardly flared portion 15 thereof and to retain the jaws in a closedposition, the pin 34 that connects the levers 33 is adapted to bepositioned in the same. The ends of the levers 30 and the levers 33opposite to those of the connection with the links 32 have securedthereto, the rings 35 that in turn are secured in the elongated links36. Suitable means 37 can be connected to the links 36 whereby pressurecan be applied to urge the said links away from the jaws 12 therebyrocking the levers 30 and the levers 33 so as to provide a clampingaction between the jaws 12 and thus efliciently retain the wires 11between the strips 10.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form andconstruction of my device without departing from the material partsthereof. It is therefore not wished to confine the invention to theexact form and construction herein shown and described, but it is wishedto include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

What is claimed is 1. In a clamp, a jaw, a second jaw movable relativelyto said first jaw, means in connection with one of said jaws, a secondmeans in detachable connection with the other of said jaws, and meansassociated with said first and second mentioned means operable to closesaid jaws.

2. In a clamp including a pair of pivotally secured jaws, a pair ofstrips secured between said jaws, one of said jaws having a pair oflevers pivotally secured thereto, a second pair of levers in detachablepivotal engagement with said jaw opposite from that to which said firstmentioned levers are secured, links connecting said sets of levers andmeans in connection with said levers to exert pressure thereon to urgesaidjaws to a closed position.

3. In a clamp, a jaw, a second jaw, said second jaw being movablerelatively to said first 'aw one of said 'aws havin levers 1n' I 7 I I ID pivotal connection therewlth, the other of said jaws having levers indetachable pivoted engagement therewith, and means associated with saidlevers operable to close said jaws.

4. In a clamp including a pair of pivotally secured jaws, a pair ofstrips secured between said jaws, each of said jaws having levers inpivotal connection therewith, means connecting said levers, and a secondmeans in connection with said levers to exert pressure thereon so as tourge the jaws to a closed position.

5. In a clamp including a pair of pivotally secured aws, a palr ofstrips secured between said aws, one of said aws having a pair ofFRANKN. FITCH.

Witnesses C. E. FITCH, P. WVALLING.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

